What to Know about ancient Egypt
you can discover Ancient Egypt by Hot Air Balloon trip, but firstly, Are you curious about what life was like in this ancient civilization? Get ready to explore the culture and everyday lives of the people who lived in this fascinating time period.
Overview of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was a powerful and influential civilization in the region of North Africa for over 3,000 years, from around 3100 BCE to 30 BCE. It was unified around 3100 BCE and established a powerful economy and culture that lasted for thousands of years.
Ancient Egypt civilization had many remarkable achievements and cultural advances in every area, including its art and architecture, language, religion, economics, and social structure. In this blog post, we will take an in-depth look at the overview of Ancient Egypt, the Archaic Period, the Pyramids, global connections, language, history and religion, economics and trade, social structure, art and architecture, and legacy of Ancient Egypt.
The Early Dynastic Period
The Early Dynastic Period in Ancient Egypt was an important milestone in the history of ancient Egypt, as it marks the time of unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. This era is generally taken to include the First and Second Dynasties, and is known to have been marked by instability.
The capital of ancient Egypt was established at White Walls (later known as Memphis) during this time, and King Menes is credited with the unification. This period was followed by the Old Kingdom, which is marked by the building of the pyramids.
Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
The ancient Egyptians were highly advanced in many areas of science, technology and art. One of their greatest achievements was the construction of the pyramids. The first proto-pyramid-like structure to evolve in Egypt was the Pyramid of Djoser (also known as the Step Pyramid) in the Saqqara necropolis, built during a time when Egypt was one of the richest and most powerful civilizations in the world.
The three colossal pyramids at Giza, the first and largest of which was built during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (2589–2566 BCE), were erected on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River near Al-Jīzah (Giza) in northern Egypt.The pyramids were built as burial places and monuments to the Pharaohs and were believed to be necessary for the Pharaohs to pass into the afterlife.
How exactly they were constructed is still a mystery but it is likely that they used a massive shipping, mining and farming economy, combined with ladders and scaffolding, to do so. Despite their incredible engineering feat, they still stand as silent testament to the ingenuity and skill of the ancient Egyptians.
The Ancient Egyptian Language
The Ancient Egyptian language is a branch of the Afro-Asiatic languages, believed to have been in use for thousands of years. During the four millennia of its history, the language underwent graphic and linguistic changes, the basic graphic system being hieroglyphs.
It was mainly used by priests and scribes. In the later stages of ancient Egyptian civilization, only priests were able to read and write in hieroglyphs. This suggests that ancient Egyptian must have been a highly specialized language. It is known that the ancient Egyptians had a great influence on the languages of their neigh bouring regions, such as Semitic, Cushitic, Chadic, Omotic, and Berber languages. Despite being a dead language, its influence can still be seen in many languages today.
History and Religion of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian religion was closely integrated into their society and beliefs, and was expressed through a combination of rituals, practices, and beliefs. The main components of the religion were the priests and priestly institutions, which held the secrets of religious knowledge.
Ancient Egyptians also believed in the afterlife and the power of the gods to influence their lives. The belief in the afterlife was so strong that many tombs have been discovered with artifacts meant to help them on their journey to the afterlife. This integration of religious beliefs into society created an intricate and unique way of life that has been influential throughout history.
Social Structure of Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptian society was structured like a pyramid with the gods at the top, followed by the Pharaoh and his Vizier, Nobles, Priests, Scribes, Soldiers, Craftsmen, Farmers and Slaves.
The Pharaoh was the highest in the social hierarchy and held immense power. The government officials were responsible for the daily operations of the state, while the nobles and priests were the privileged few. Below them were the scribes and soldiers, who kept records and defended the state respectively.
Lastly, there were farmers and peasants who performed manual labor and craftsmen who created goods. Although the farmers were at the bottom of the social structure, they were essential to the functioning of society by providing food and resources.
Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt
The art and architecture of Ancient Egypt were closely connected to the religious beliefs and cosmology of the civilization. Ancient Egyptians used two primary building materials: unbaked mud brick and stone. From the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom, temples, palaces, tombs, and fortresses were all constructed using these materials to maintain Ma’at – the ancient Egyptian concept of order, balance, and truth.
Ancient Egyptian art often depicted their gods and goddesses in formal, abstract, and stylized forms with an emphasis on order and symmetry. It was also closely linked to their mythology and beliefs about the afterlife.
Enjoy Hot Air Balloon to Explore Ancient Egypt
Through your tour in Egypt, you Can have an Over night to Luxor and try our Hot Air Balloon trip, you can Choose one of our Flying Balloon : the Standard Flight or The Deluxe Flight